So I didn’t want to ignore the first month and a half or two months of my training. I wanted to explain a little about things I was worried about and how I felt after those first few flights. At the time I didn’t know it, but after a month or so, I realized that those first few flights, and the things I felt, were going to be some of the best experiences of my life; and it got better and more fun with every flight!
One of the first things I learned, but anticipated, was that flying takes dedication and perseverance. Learning to fly, learning and understanding regulations, deciphering weather information, and talking on the radio to ground or tower control is like learning a new language. There are terms and phrases that are only relevant to aviation. (Example: I always heard other pilots saying ‘wilco’ to the tower and ground control. This is a military term meaning ‘will comply’). Learning any of these things, as well as everything else in aviation can be challenging. But I feel that if you love aviation, like me, and are willing to put in the time, it’s not very hard at all.
In the first three weeks, I found myself being intimidated from things that I barely notice today (2 months into training). One of the most intimidating things for me was using the radio. During my first flight, my instructor did all the talking. However, on the second flight, I had to do it all. My instructor made me rehearse the radio calls with him before I pressed the button to talk on the frequency. It was still nerve racking knowing that anyone tuned into that frequency could hear what I was saying. What if I made mistake, or didn’t know what to say? One thing that my instructor told me, which was reassuring was that my base airport as over 300 students pilots. The tower and ground controls are use to people saying the wrong thing and messing up. It’s easy to be intimidated by the radio, but you’ll get use to it very quickly.
Another thing that I was uneasy about was finding my way and knowing where I was going, both in the air and on the ground. Navigation, as I learned a month into my training, is a section learned in ground school. The training grounds around my base airport are close enough that with 30 seconds of leaving the grounds, you can make out the airport on a clear day. Again, my instructor helped me a lot with where to go, what altitudes to be at and what speed I need to fly at. Every once and a while today he’ll still correct me for things I’m doing wrong.
The first few flights were some of my favorite lessons. Taking off for the first time felt amazing. It was a moment I had been anticipating since I was 12 years old. However, the first time I was at the controls and I had to do the takeoff was unforgettable.
One of the first things I learned, but anticipated, was that flying takes dedication and perseverance. Learning to fly, learning and understanding regulations, deciphering weather information, and talking on the radio to ground or tower control is like learning a new language. There are terms and phrases that are only relevant to aviation. (Example: I always heard other pilots saying ‘wilco’ to the tower and ground control. This is a military term meaning ‘will comply’). Learning any of these things, as well as everything else in aviation can be challenging. But I feel that if you love aviation, like me, and are willing to put in the time, it’s not very hard at all.
In the first three weeks, I found myself being intimidated from things that I barely notice today (2 months into training). One of the most intimidating things for me was using the radio. During my first flight, my instructor did all the talking. However, on the second flight, I had to do it all. My instructor made me rehearse the radio calls with him before I pressed the button to talk on the frequency. It was still nerve racking knowing that anyone tuned into that frequency could hear what I was saying. What if I made mistake, or didn’t know what to say? One thing that my instructor told me, which was reassuring was that my base airport as over 300 students pilots. The tower and ground controls are use to people saying the wrong thing and messing up. It’s easy to be intimidated by the radio, but you’ll get use to it very quickly.
Another thing that I was uneasy about was finding my way and knowing where I was going, both in the air and on the ground. Navigation, as I learned a month into my training, is a section learned in ground school. The training grounds around my base airport are close enough that with 30 seconds of leaving the grounds, you can make out the airport on a clear day. Again, my instructor helped me a lot with where to go, what altitudes to be at and what speed I need to fly at. Every once and a while today he’ll still correct me for things I’m doing wrong.
The first few flights were some of my favorite lessons. Taking off for the first time felt amazing. It was a moment I had been anticipating since I was 12 years old. However, the first time I was at the controls and I had to do the takeoff was unforgettable.
